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Post by Cujo on Aug 8, 2023 7:19:56 GMT -5
FCS Top 25 1 S Dakota St 2 N Dakota St 3 Montana St 4 W&M 5 Holy Cross 6 Furman 7 UIW 8 Idaho 9 Samford 10 Sac St 11 New Hampshire 12 SEMO 13 Weber St 14 Montana 15 SELA 16 UC Davis 17 North Dakota 18 Richmond 19 NCCU 20 Mercer 21 URI 22 Delaware 23 UNI 24 E Kentucky 25 GWebb
Prediction is that we are the first team left without a bye. And there it is again, the love for Furman.
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Post by SU DOG on Aug 8, 2023 9:09:52 GMT -5
On this day last August this same poll came out for the 2022 season. Scroll down to the rankings and get a good laugh. Look really hard to find Samford and you still won't which means we didn't make the top 39 picks. Furman is in the ORV list at #35 and ETSU is the highest rated SoCon team. Granted because of last year the SoCon does have somewhat more respect, however, the year before and the name brand seems to be the deciding factors in preseason rankings. There seems to be little research on the roster of a team, recent signings, and transfer values. Also, IMO, there is much bias relative to conferences. The SoCon is not a darling like the Big Sky, Missouri Valley and CAA. theanalyst.com/na/2022/08/national-champ-north-dakota-state-an-overwhelming-no-1-in-stats-perform-fcs-preseason-top-25/
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Post by Cujo on Aug 8, 2023 10:21:40 GMT -5
Any idiot could pick one and two on any given year. After that, too much reliance is based upon last year and records. For instance, Samford had a strong year, but rarely dominated anyone on "both" sides of the ball. Every game except a couple were shootouts. The ball bounced our way, we generally stayed healthy at key positions (until the last play of the Mercer game) and luck was on our side. A couple of bad breaks and we could have been 7-4. That said, we lost a ton of key players. We went into the open market to replace those players. Will they gel like last years team did? Will the new guys learn the system and play smart? Will they miss reads and assignments and be in the wrong spots. Will we be better? Will we be not as good? You just don't know.
the only thing I know, we will beat Shorter. I have high hopes for the season. I tend to think we will be better, but being better is all relative. How much better will Mercer, UTC, and Furman be?
That's why you line it up and play on grass . . . er synthetic fibers with a rubber base and not on paper.
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Post by sudog03 on Aug 8, 2023 11:48:23 GMT -5
Biggest key to winning, don't beat yourself. We made very few mistakes last season, especially from the QB position. Had some luck health wise, until the end.
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Post by Smurf on Aug 8, 2023 12:23:52 GMT -5
The margin between success and failure is so thin. What if the SELA player hangs on to the ball for a second longer and doesn't fumble? What if Mercer's FGA is a few inches higher and we don't block it? What if there is a high snap with :25 seconds left against TTU when we were behind by one?
Optically, you can be a really good team, not properly execute in three or four single plays out of an entire season, and wind up with a record that makes you look very mediocre. Three or four plays might mean the difference in 9-2 and 6-5.
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Post by SU DOG on Aug 8, 2023 12:54:32 GMT -5
One possible big factor that I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that our players are now very familiar with DC Chris Boone, his schemes and his expectations. I give him much credit for our success last year.
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Post by sudog03 on Aug 8, 2023 14:02:20 GMT -5
One possible big factor that I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that our players are now very familiar with DC Chris Boone, his schemes and his expectations. I give him much credit for our success last year. Boone good coach. Gave up almost the identical yards per play (5.3) as we did in Billy D last season* (5.4). 3rd down conversion defense very similar as well. Difference? Only 6 turnovers all year in conference play last season. Just cannot beat yourself. Hope that trend continues. *league games only.
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Post by 77SU on Aug 8, 2023 16:21:39 GMT -5
the only thing I know, we will beat Shorter. Anyone remember Mississippi College in '93 and '94?
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Post by SU DOG on Aug 8, 2023 16:35:26 GMT -5
One possible big factor that I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that our players are now very familiar with DC Chris Boone, his schemes and his expectations. I give him much credit for our success last year. Boone good coach. Gave up almost the identical yards per play (5.3) as we did in Billy D last season* (5.4). 3rd down conversion defense very similar as well. Difference? Only 6 turnovers all year in conference play last season. Just cannot beat yourself. Hope that trend continues. *league games only. I liked Billy D, but the comparison you make is between a 13th year DC and a first-year man. Some difference in total conference opponents' points, 221 to 184 last year.
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Post by SU DOG on Aug 8, 2023 16:48:49 GMT -5
the only thing I know, we will beat Shorter. Anyone remember Mississippi College in '93 and '94? Two L's for Samford to a D-2 team.
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